The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 190: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GIBBET 173 thafe. I never yet thaw an ekthecuthion, and wouldn’t mith the pwethent occathion for a thouthand guineath.”’ “Vare good! ”’ cried the count. ‘Tis de fine old English custom to hang up as many of de English people as de law shall allow.” “Ah! we beat you, count, you see,’ exclaimed the Mar- quis of Brandyford, “‘ in our public executions. Give me the excitement of one good hanging-scene in preference to all your guillotiming.”’ “Tho I thay,” said the lisping nobleman, who was ama- zinely fond of hearing himself talk. ‘“‘ But I am athtonithed that the influenth of Lady Ernethtina and the Marquith of Levethon did not thucktheed in getting Dythart off.” “The marquis hates him,” said Curzon.* ‘“‘ Moreover, he is on the Continent, and I have no doubt he went thither to be out of the way at the present time.” “Well, I cannot say that I ever liked Dysart much,’’ observed Lieutenant Apsley, as he squeezed the lemons into the punch-bowl. “ Besides, that affair with young Sefton was a downright murder.”’ “To be sure,” exclaimed the Honourable George Mac- namara, “‘ and he deserves to be hanged for it. But, by _the bye, we must tell that scoundrel of a waiter not to go to bed all night, as we shall want breakfast at six or seven o’clock in the morning.” “And let us send him to hire a couple of windows for us exactly facing Newgate,” suggested the Marquis of Brandy- ford. “ Yeth, we muth take care and wetain fwont theath to witneth the performanth,” cried Lord Plantagenet. ‘“Vare good! Vare good!” exclaimed the count. The waiter was accordingly summoned; and having received his instructions in pursuance of the resolves just adopted, he departed at once to secure a couple of windows at some house fronting the prison. In about ten minutes he returned with the gratifying intelligence that he had succeeded in retaining a first-floor room opposite Newgate, for the moderate sum of ten guineas. This bargain was pronounced ‘dirt cheap” by the aristocratic band of elegants; and the Marquis of Brandyford flung his purse at the waiter’s head, bidding him “ go and settle for the room, - and keep the rest for himself.’ The purse hit the waiter ) ECOMMIC OOO ‘S (C(O)